In the Spring of 2026, the NYU Shanghai Student Elections Board conducted the Presidential and Vice Presidential elections for Student Government. Zandrea Xi (co ‘27), along with her Vice Presidential candidate Becky Chen (co ‘29) ultimately won the election, and are serving in their positions for the academic year.

Zandrea has been involved in Student Government all four years at NYUSH, holding positions such as Chief of Staff, Vice President, Junior Class Representative, and now President.

She has had many notable achievements during her tenure, including the creation of the Academic Affairs committee, a streamlined channel for students to communicate their academic concerns. She also spearheaded the Big/Little program, which connects first and third-year students, ensuring that when third-years return from study away, they know members of the first-year cohort.

Beyond these achievements, Zandrea has also helped implement initiatives that affect the every-day lives of the NYU Shanghai community, such as getting clear food allergen labels in the cafeteria, and getting microwaves in every residence hall room. One thing Zandrea regrets, though, is not being able to keep graduation off of the quad.

Zandrea and Becky’s main campaign promises include strengthening communication and transparency, building community, and advocating for students’ academic experiences. They want to create more regular opportunities for students to share their concerns. In an effort to address this, the entire Student Government Executive Board has office hours available.

They also hope to build stronger connections across the NYU Shanghai community through events and increased collaborations between students, faculty, and staff. Zandrea hopes to lead by example in her role by supporting and uplifting other members, providing them with the encouragement and resources they need to turn their ideas into action.

As the new year kicks off, the two are most excited to mentor and support the next generation of student leaders, and share with others what they have learned from their time at NYU Shanghai. Outside of Student Government, Zandrea looks forward to making the most of her final year—challenging herself in the classroom, learning from professors she admires, and figuring out what comes next.

Zandrea and Becky are always happy to listen, and are committed to be available to the student body. If you want to reach out to them, you can email shanghai.student.government@nyu.edu.

We asked Zandrea if there was anything else she wanted to share and she replied with this: